The earliest natural histories were almost all concerned with the botanical world, because of the medicinal and nutritional aspects of plants, while later botanical prints often focused on the beauty of the flowers and other plants depicted.

Entomology is not usually seen as a natural source for decorative prints, but while some insect images are straightforwardly scientific, others are designed to be as aesthetic as they are precise in detail.

While ichthyological prints are often less than obviously beautiful, they have an aesthetic appeal of their own. Many series show obscure fish, but others focus on popular game fish such as trout and bass.